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ABRAHAM DEPARTS AND ISAAC STANDS OUT

Genesis 25

Victor M. Eskew

 

I.           The Title of Genesis 25

 

A.   Death and Diversity of Sons

B.    The Family Tree of Abraham

C.   A Patriarch Leaves a Legacy

D.   Abraham Departs and Isaac Stands Out

 

II.         The Key Verse of Genesis 25:  Genesis 25:7-8

 

And these are the days of the years of Abraham’s life which he lived, a hundred threescore and fifteen years.  Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.

 

Why this verse?  This is the day that we knew would come, but did not want to see.  This great man of faith passes from this life.  His life, however, was “full of years.”  It was a life filled with trials, blessings, and many children.

 

III.       The Outline of Genesis 25

 

i.               SONS BY KETURAH (Gen. 25:1-6)

ii.              SLEEP OF ABRAHAM (Gen. 25:7-11)

iii.            SONS OF ISHMAEL (Gen. 25:12-18)

iv.            SONS OF ISAAC (Gen. 25:19-34)

 

IV.        The Lessons from Genesis 25

 

A.   In this chapter, we see Isaac being blessed and standing out from Abraham’s other sons.

1.     And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac (Gen. 25:5).

2.     …and sent them away from Isaac his sons… (Gen. 25:6).

3.     And it came to pass after the death of Abraham that God blessed his son Isaac, and Isaac dwelt by the well Laha-roi (Gen. 25:11).

4.     And these are the generations of Isaac… (Gen. 25:19).

 

B.    Keturah (Gen. 25:1)

1.     Who?

a.     Keturah is referred to as a concubine (Gen. 25:6).

b.    “Jonathan ben Uzziel and the Jerusalem Targum both assert that Keturah was the same as Hagar (Clarke, e-sword).  However, the two seem so distinguished in the Scripture that this opinion does not seem to be probable.

2.     When?  When did Abraham take Keturah to be his wife?

a.     Some think that is was before the death of Sarah.

b.    Some believe that she was taken after the death of Sarah.

C.   Isaac is the child of promise and received Abraham’s inheritance (Gen. 25:5).

 

And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.

 

D.   Again, we are impressed with the idea that death ultimately comes to all, even the greatest of men (Gen. 25:8).

 

Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people.

 

E.    Note the phrase:  …and was gathered to his people.  After death, all men enter into the hadean realm, the unseen realm of the dead.

 

F.     The blessings of Abraham now continue with Isaac, the son of promise (Gen. 25:11).

 

 

And it came to ass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.

 

G.   God’s promise is fulfilled to both Hagar (Gen. 16:10) and Abraham (Gen. 21:13) in giving Ishmael twelve sons who became princes.

 

H.   We noted that Isaac was 37 years old when his mother died.  He did not marry Rebekah until he was 40 years old (Gen. 25:20).  Thus, he grieved the loss of his mother for three years.

 

I.     We are once again introduced to the efficacy (the power) of prayer (Gen. 25:21).

 

And Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren:  and the Lord was en-treated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

 

J.    Rebekah turned to God for answered and found them (Gen. 25:22-23).

 

And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus?  And she went to inquire of the Lord.  And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels, and the one people shall be stronger than the other people:  and the elder shall serve the younger.

 

K.   In the home, there will be many differences between children (Gen. 25:24-25).

1.     Appearance (Gen. 25:25)

2.     Position and power (Gen. 25:25-26)

3.     Interests (Gen. 25:27)

4.     Relationship with parents (Gen. 25:28)

 

L.    Many make hasty decisions based upon faulty information (Gen. 25:29-320.

1.     Esau was faint (Gen. 25:29).

2.     A life-changing deal was offered to him by Jacob (Gen. 25:31).

3.     Listen to Esau’s faulty reasoning (Gen. 25:32).

 

And Esau said, Behold I am at the point to die:  and what profit shall this birth right do to me?

 

M.  Esau sold and despised his birthright for a measly bowl of pottage (Gen. 25:33-34).  What will we sell our birthright for?

 

And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him:  and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.  Than Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way:  thus Esau despised his birthright.

 

 

 

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